edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

The most important aspect of photography isn’t the camera, the lens, the filter or the megapixel. It’s LIGHT. Light is what photography is all about. Without it, there would be no photographers and this forum wouldn’t exist. We use our cameras, lenses filters and megapixels to capture the way light reflects off various subjects to illuminate our scenes. As important as it is, how often do you consciously think about just how light falls on your subject to enable you to get the shot? Unless you are in a studio setting, trying to set up a half dozen light sources at varying strengths and distances, I would guess not very often at all.
Not everyone is able to call forth six different light sources to illuminate a scene, nor would most of us want to. Believe me, it can be a real pain. Most are relegated to one light source. That source, in most cases is the direct light from the sun or a flash or diffused light from a window. Think about it. Ninety eight percent of the time, we are shooting with only one source of light. Understanding how that light source interacts with our subject is what this challenge is all about.
For the next three days, grab those cameras and go outside or go to the studio or whatever and shoot some photographs using only ONE direct light source. Reflectors are permitted. Don’t cheat, I’ll know. Take your shots bearing in mind the effect of your light source and what it does to your subject. Use different angles; ones that you’ve never used before. Use your imagination. Break the rules. For this challenge, please, no archives. Get out there, get active, get creative and have fun. Make me proud.
It would probably help everyone if you gave us a brief or not so brief description of what you did and why you did it. As always, neatness counts. Try not to erase.

Bushido Loc: No Where and Every Where

Great subject and challenge edgorm. This will be fun to see what everyone comes up with.

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

Yes it will. I like the shots you're getting with the new camera. I just recently got a Sigma 150-500mm lens and although the weather here hasn't been very cooperative over the last two weeks, the results I'm seeing so far I'm liking.

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

I have been looking froward to this challenge. Am thinking....Hopefully have something tomorrow.

Clicker2014 Loc: Canada

Sounds like a great challenge Ed! I have a free day tomorrow, so will do something fresher to post! In the meantime...this was taken yesterday with this challenge in mind. I was not sure what you would want, but I was concentrating on the lighting. I was working outside in full sun most of the time, which can be a bit of a problem. But the 1st one was taken with my macro lens in light shade and of course the sun as my source of light and I actually over exposed to give it a soft effect rather than bright colors. The second one was out in full sun and I had to think of what to do to get good exposure for the shrubbery and still get detail on the sidewalk....it took several tries until I got it right! I hope this is what you are looking for! I look forward to what you and the others come up with and I will be back with more tomorrow and will also try some different angles!

2nd pic will not come through...hopefully I will be able to upload later.

Canon 100 Macro - F6.7 ISO 200 1/15 sec. - Shutter Priority

(Download)

Bushido Loc: No Where and Every Where

I am still debating and the Sigma was on the finalist list. The con that most long lenses have is that they are slow. That may be over come with the new camera who ISO goes tops out 51,200 when pushed to the max. All report say that the noise is handle quite well through the normal range of ISO. That will be my next test. If the sensor holds true then I can get a slower lens. My second option is get a faster lens with the max being 2 or 3 hundred mm and add a 2X tella converter when I don't need the speed yet need the higher power. Let me know your thinking on this. Also if you would let me know how the Sigma is working as you use it.

plessner Loc: North Dakota

sounds like an interesting challenge

Dan L Loc: Wisconsin

Thanks Edgorm for hosting "One Light Wonders" Challenge.
Let's see! hmmm
Thanks for hosting Sunday's Free challenge Pat! Fun and great sharing!

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

Well done, Sharon. Shade is soft and diffused to begin with and adding a slightly high key effect made the colors go pastel without being washed out. I see so many photos out there that claim to be high key but instead are just blown out overexposures. Good job.

judy juul Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

Thanks for hosting ,Ed! This looks like a great idea-encourages creative thinking! :thumbup: :thumbup: Will probably be able to get out tomorrow to "trip the light fantastic..." :thumbup: :thumbup:

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

Dan L , thanks. It's fun to host but I couldn't be around much yesterday and that frustrates me.

Fred Ann Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

My one light source this morning is the strong morning sunlight shining through my living room window. Our black cat Shakey loves to lie in the sun, In this picture he opened one eye to check out what I was doing.
Secondly, we have a geranium plant in the window and its full blossom picked up the morning light beautifully around its edges. I love the shadowy area at the back of the blossom,verifying the one light source coming only from the front. No editing on either of these pictures, both straight from my camera.

Shakey lying in the sun


geranium blossom

Clicker2014 Loc: Canada

Thanks Ed for the words of encouragement. It is the UHH Forum and educational and informative challenges like yours that has given me the knowledge and desire to improve.


Tried again to send a picture and it won't upload....sigh... :cry:

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

Fred Ann, let me begin by saying that it is my belief that the host of a challenge like this has the responsibility of being a teacher and a critic. To fulfill these roles in such a way so as not to be condescending and offensive is a challenge in itself. The whole point of this forum, I believe, is to give and get instruction to and from other members. If you want a popularity contest, go to 500x. I've seen too many instances where people just hand out atta boy's to photos that are truly bad, just because they don't want to take the chance of offending someone. I've been sitting here, drinking too much coffee, deliberating what to say about your shots.
They both have a lot of potential. I don't recall what camera you use or what format you shoot, jpeg or raw, but these two look to me like raw images that have not been worked on. Saying that these are right out of the camera puts me in mind of a baker taking a cake out of the oven and presenting it to a customer without icing or decoration. No digital camera, no matter how expensive, is capable of producing a satisfactory finished product. That is why all of these post production programs exist. We are cheating ourselves if we don't use them.
Rant over. Shakey's picture looks to me to be a little washed out. Try cutting back on the exposure 1/2 to 3/4 of a stop. Add a little contrast and see if you can tone down the really bright areas of the quilt that are competing with your subject. The composition is wonderful. I like the curve of the cat's body leading to the half opened eye and I like the colorful quilt keeping the eye confined to the cat. Like I said, the bright areas in the lower left and lower right corners compete with the subject and distract the eye.
The geranium also has good potential. I like the choice of backlighting the flower. Again, the print is a little overexposed and flat. Try to add some contrast and see if you can brighten the outer petals without losing detail and bring a little more detail out in the center of the bloom.

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

What's the problem with the upload? Is the file a jpeg? Is it too big? I've had some photos in the 10 meg range that just didn't want to load. I had to go back into Lightroom and export them as smaller files before they would load properly.